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Folk Art Decorated Large Document Box, Antique New England Americana

Offered by: Robert James Walsh & Company

Description
This handsome, large document box is sponge-painted in black over red and has a spray of stenciled golden flowers along the front, with tendrils finished by hand. It is made of six pine boards and has the original hand-forged iron hardware. The box is joined by sunken, cut, finish nails and brads. The lock is made of hand-forged iron held in place by rectangular cut brads, and there is a swinging cover to protect the key hole (the key was lost long ago).

This type of box was used to store important family and farm documents which needed to be kept under lock and key. Such boxes were often placed in the home in full view for easy access, hence the fine decoration. The sponged-on paint in black over red gives the box an energetic drapery effect, and the golden flowers with fine tendrils make it pleasing and cheerful. The lid and front have a line of hand-painted olive green banding surrounded by gold stringing which highlight the edges of the box. The back is plain red. This is an excellent example of 19th century household taste beautifully decorated by hand in exuberant style.

The outside surface shows typical wear with scratches from home or farm use, while the hinges are tight, the varnish is intact, and the inside is very clean. The box is an authentic, untouched piece of antique American material culture, and presents itself as Folk Art well.

More Information

Origin:	United States
Period:	19th Century
Materials:	Pine, paint, metal hardware
Condition:	Fair. Untouched, original wear from use.
Creation Date:	1840
Styles / Movements:	Americana, Outsider Art, Victorian
Patterns:	Florals/Botanical, Geometric, Tone on Tone
Dealer Reference #:	CJG-17-10XGL/L
Incollect Reference #:	483348

Dimensions

W.	26 in;	H.	12 in;	D.	13.75 in;
W.	66.04 cm;	H.	30.48 cm;	D.	34.93 cm;

Message from Seller:

Robert James Walsh & Company is a thirty-year-old Vermont business dealing in antiques, art, and modernism. Robert Walsh, owner, is also an Accredited Member of Appraisers Association of America, as well as a respected consultant. We have participated in many international trade shows in the US and Canada.

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